Browns is singing a different tune now, saying Richardson can be a force.

Richardson caught wind that Brown was singing his praises.

“I’ve still got a lot to prove,” he said. “I have a lot to prove to the team, the fans, really to the NFL. Still, it’s good to hear, coming from him.”

FEAR FLASHES

Browns fans who have seen all sorts of camp calamities held their breath when projected No. 1 wideout Josh Gordon stayed on the field in pain after a Brandon Weeden bomb.

First, Gordon couldn’t handle a ball he should have caught. Then, he gripped at a calf while practice was delayed with him not getting up. Finally, Gordon arose and limped back to the group. He is apparently OK.

“I’m not expecting any issues there,” head coach Rob Chudzinski said.

The team could tolerate a lesser injury to Gordon, since he is suspended for the first two regular-season games.

A LITTLE LOVE

Greg Little says he and Gordon have become close friends. Both lived in the Miami area for much of the offseason.

“We hung out there and we hang out here,” Little said.

The Browns are installing an offense thought to be perfect for Gordon. It hasn’t come as naturally to Little.

Little played college football under head coach Butch Davis at North Carolina. Little said Davis and Chudzinski are “a lot alike” in terms of “getting the most out of me.”

However, whereas Davis’ offense was very similar to the one used by Pat Shurmur the last two years, Chudzinski’s is a different world.

New coordinator Norv Turner says Little is a great fit for the offense. Little, though, admits making the new ways second nature takes up all of his time.

After practice, he headed for a video room to study wideouts who played for Turner in San Diego.

WHY FIGHT HIM?

If defensive lineman Brian Sanford makes the team, he will be paid NFL minimum wage.

If Sanford gets in more fights with left tackle Joe Thomas, owner Jimmy Haslam might transfer him to Pilot Flying J.

Sanford and Thomas were part of a brief fight during an 11-on-11 drill Thursday.

Head coach Rob Chudzinski would only say, “It’s training camp.”

Thomas is due to pocket about $10 million in 2013.

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GLITCH OF JULY

Tight end Jordan Cameron struggled as he opened his bid to win the No. 1 tight end job.

At one point, Cameron got good position on safety T.J. Ward but was too weak to keep Ward from tearing away a strike from Brandon Weeden. Another time, offensive coordinator Norv Turner barked at Cameron for blowing an assignment.

The coaches have more trust in veteran free agency pick-up Gary Barnidge at this point.

• Defensive tackle Phil Taylor is recovering from a calf injury. He attended practice but was held out.

EXTRA POINTS

• If the season began today, John Greco would start at left guard, with Shawn Lauvao playing right guard. Jason Pinkston, who began each of the last two years as a starter, is still in the mix.

• Cornerback Buster Skrine ran with the “ones” opposite Joe Haden. In nickel situations, the Browns are toying with moving Skrine to the slot and letting veteran Chris Owens or rookie Leon McFadden play outside.

• Thursday’s opening-day camp crowd was announced at 2,692. Capacity, Dan Murphy of the Browns said, is “about 3,000.”

• Owner Jimmy Haslam turned up at practice with his wife, Dee. Their first stop before practice was the fancy new, two-story V.I.P. tent on the southeast corner of the four-field complex.